Eighty-two students at Argo Community High School completed the last school year with a Seal of Biliteracy.
Al Hasan, who is assistant division chair and EL director, and Jennifer Julius, chair of the World Languages Department, are very proud of all of them.
At the end of the last school year, a breakfast celebration was held for seniors who earned the Seal of Biliteracy.
Compared to previous years, the program and number of students awarded has been increasing.
“So far, under Mrs. Julius’ and my tenure, the number of students awarded has increased by approximately 12%,” said Hasan.
The Seal of Biliteracy is a state of Illinois recognition given to graduating seniors who demonstrate high levels of proficiency in English and other languages. This is recognized on student transcripts and diplomas and is available to any student at Argo Community High School who has qualifying scores in English and another language.
Students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy and attend Illinois state universities can get two years of foreign language credit.
The program has been around for at least 10 years at Argo.
“They achieve this by proving that they are biliterate,” Hasan said. “This is done by proving proficiency in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English and an additional language. Students can achieve this by taking a foreign language or English exam through a testing company we use called Avant Stamp. Coupled with passing a foreign language test, students also have to prove English proficiency by attaining any of one of the following: scoring a 480 or higher EBRW (SAT score), 21 on the ACT, 4.8 on the ACCESS test or pass a standardized English test provided by STAMP.
“Students who attain this earn credit in Illinois Public Colleges and beyond, it increases workplace marketability. The Illinois School Board of Education recognized students who pass this as being biliterate and credentials students who go onto become teachers. Students at Argo received the Seal in six different languages this year: English, Spanish, Arabic, Polish, Ukrainian and Czech.
The students who earned the seal are:
| Abulamdi, Yaqen |
| Ali, Mahdi |
| Alva, Isabela |
| Amaya-Lozano, Jocelyn |
| Aviles-Reynoso, Elizabeth |
| Bahena, Vanessa |
| Baranek, Nicholas |
| Bednarz, Aleksandra |
| Benitez, Alexa |
| Bobak, Bartlomiej |
| Carrera, Emily |
| Castandeda-Vazquez, Arian |
| Chlebek, Angelica |
| Czuba, Sarah |
| Dabrowski, Gabriela |
| Delgado, Heilie Daniela |
| Dobryk, Patrycja |
| Dominguez, Karina |
| Echavarrieta, Lesly |
| Enriquez Guzman, Octavio |
| Espinoza, Gabriela |
| Franco, Raul |
| Fries, Jacob |
| Gal, Olivia |
| Gibala, Olivier |
| Gil, Daniel |
| Gil, Victoria |
| Guerra-Mondragon, Alan |
| Guerra-Mondragon, Kevin |
| Gutierrez Ruiz, Abigail |
| Gutierrez, Kelly |
| Hernandez-Rodea, Santiago |
| Jaimes- Torres, Oliver |
| Jarosz, John |
| Jauregui, Ashley |
| Jauregui-Ibarra, Sofia |
| Jimenez-Munoz, Alexa |
| Krol, Bartlomiej |
| Kukulak, Natalia |
| Lara-Martinez, Daniel Bisai |
| Lezama, Diana Jacqueline |
| Lopez, Olivia |
| Lopez-Ochoa, Emireth |
| Lysiak, Nicole |
| Madera, Julissa |
| Madrigal, Katherine |
| Madrigal, Nathalie |
| Malczewski, Thomas |
| Marquez Enriquez, Valeria |
| Marquez, Julian |
| Marquez, Leonardo |
| Martinez, Alexa |
| Martins, Denis |
| Mazur, Victoria |
| Mendez, Giselle |
| Mizinski, Sandra |
| Murawski, Emily |
| Niezgoda, David |
| Omran, Maram |
| Ortiz, Lyzette |
| Perez-Jimenez, Edwyn |
| Pyzh, Vitalii |
| Quinones Garcia, Evelyn |
| Ramirez-Martinez, Liliana |
| Rangel, Angeles |
| Raudalez, Joselyn |
| Reyes-Guzman,Nelly |
| Rodriguez, Imanol |
| Rosales, Alan |
| Sanchez, Leslie |
| Sarna, Kevin |
| Silva, Lesly |
| Skalak, Aleksander |
| Soria, Hailey |
| Soto, Joselin |
| Torres, Emely |
| Villagrana-DeLoera, Sebastian |
| Villanueva Camarena, Rosa |
| Wirtel, Karolina |
| Zamora, Kaylee |
| Zatloka, Angela |
| Zubieta, Franco |